Lest We Torget 

By MRS. LOUISE COULSON 




LEST WE FORGET 



By Mrs. Louise Coulson 



AUTHOR OF 

"Poems and Verse," 1893 

Poetic Gem, "To the World I Love," 1912 

"The Dawn, or The Sweete6t Story 

Ever Told," 1920 




SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 

1921 



Copyright, 1921, by 
MRS. LOUISE COULSON 



MAR 15 1921 
C1A6X3022 







Lest We Forget 

FTER the battle — after the sacrifice — after 
the triumphant victories. What? Great 
rejoicing. Thousands of our boys returning 
home, happy, content, and fully prepared to 
take up life's duties. Ready and willing to take up the 
work of reconstruction, readjustment, and help to untan- 
gle the ravages made by the war. 

Happy, victorious heroes. Sound in limb, rugged by 
experience and training. They have benefited by the 
rigors of camp and field, and are in better condition for 
life's battles than before the war. 

But what of the thousands who are maimed and 
crippled for life? Many who will never again fully 
recover their health and strength. Many who will have 
to go through life blind, armless, legless and helpless. 

They are the Heroes 

They are the boys who are the victors. Who have 
paid with their flesh and blood. The price of our country, 
our homes, our peace and comforts. 

We would indeed be most ungrateful and inhuman 
if we prove derelict in our future responsibilities, our 
duties and loving care. Our earnest endeavor in trying 
to mitigate their sufferings both in mind and body. 

America Home 

They are coming home by the thousands, and all of 
them have no real home to come to. America means the 



LEST WE FORGET 



only home many of them have once they reach the United 
States. 

They are certainly entitled to a real home. The 
home for which they have fought. It would simply be a 
farce and a crime to exact the sacrifice made and then 
dismiss them from our minds. 

The Horrors of the Trenches in France 

The blood-drenched soil of France. The rows on 
rows of the sacred mounds, for which those who have paid 
with their lives, lie sleeping in Flanders field. 

On Flanders Field our sacred Dead 
Sleep 'neath the poppies white and red, 
A sacred spot where the sunset glow 
Sheds its radiance over row on row. 
Blest heroes all beyond regret. 
No! We will not forget! We will not forget. 

God reigns supreme. Our government still lives, 
and we can not forget the magnificent manhood that has 
fought for our country and our homes. Fought for the 
liberty and freedom of humanity, at home, and across 
the seas. We shall not forget the noble lives sacrificed 
that our government shall be sustained; and the birth of 
manhood's rights and demands shall be fostered in the 
hearts of our young American life. 

The Dawn of a New Era 

To those who have carried our flag to victory a new 
day dawns. Our boys returning triumphant in the victory 
of right over wrong shall be sustained for all time to 
come. Many of them left their homes inexperienced boys. 



LEST WE FORGET 



They are returning men. Men with a wonderful insight 
into the future of America. 

Younger Boys Filling the Rank of Labor 

The boys who were not old enough for service in 
the army can, and will take up the duties of life where 
the older boys left off, and all civic and public utilities 
will go on unhampered. 

Our Boys' Demands 

But our boys returning to civil life will demand and 
justly so, a higher place among the big things in life. 
They will have higher ideals and greater aspirations. 

They have passed through the trying ordeals and 
conflicts brought about by neglect, indifference, greed 
and assumed power by those who -all too long have tyran- 
nized over a more or less helpless people. 

It is natural that our Young American Manhood 
shall forge to the front, and take up the Herculean task 
of readjustment, reconstruction, and help to rehabilitate 
the countries laid waste. 

Our 100 Per Cent and a Mite Over — American 

American blood will tell, and thank God we have 
the cleanest, whitest and most courageous young men of 
any nation under the sun. 

Clean in thought — high ideals of life. Brave to 
defend the rights of a just and righteous people. There 
is no other nation on earth that sent to the war a cleaner, 
physical, mental and spiritual set of men, nor a more 
perfect manhood than America. Neither could they send 



LEST WE FORGET 



a more humane body of men than our soldiers have proven 

to be. 

The Spirit of America 

That great white spirit that predominates over our 
American homes. The human love for all suffering 
humanity. The ready sympathy for all those in distress, 
be that distress caused by unforeseen disaster or any other 
cause, the American spirit of help is never withheld. 

Divine Guidance 

Our Nation is a God loving, and a God worshiping 
people, and with that divine inspiration uppermost in 
their hearts they fear nothing. 

Thus we find our armies victorious not only in the 
mastery over seen and unseen foes, but right over wrong. 
So, that when our people are called upon in any crisis 
they are ever ready and willing to respond, and with a 
courage unfaltering. 

The Heart Throbs of the Nation 

The great heart throbs of American men and women 
ever beat toward the human side of life. Our country. 
Our home. Our people. 

So that now our American manhood has been put 
to the test they were not found wanting, but they re- 
sponded to the call of our nation to fight for our national 
life, our government, our laws, and our institutions 
builded for the protection of our republic. 

Confidence in Our Government 

We are quite sure, now the conflict on the battle- 
fields is over, they will rally to the rescue of any future 



LEST WE FORGET 



threatened danger. They more fully realize what our 
national life means. Now they have come in contact with 
the powers which sought to overpower and destroy that 
which all peoples must retain if life is to be secure — 
liberty, freedom of thought and action. 

Their Falling Comrades 

We, nor they, will forget. Our boys will ever remem- 
ber seeing their comrades falling on the fields of battle. 
The devastated countries over which they led the way, 
and the blood drenched fields, where at last they stood 
victorious; stood under our flag, that no nation will ever 
haul down. 

Then turning their faces toward home and their na- 
tive land, it is no wonder they have returned men instead 
of the fair youths who bravely, and without fear, marched 
to unknown lands. 

Imbued with Hope 

They have returned men imbued with hope and a 
wonderful and intense depth of thought and understand- 
ing, and we as a nation will have to reckon with men and 
not boys; no matter how immature or undeveloped they 
were when they entered the army. 

Their experience has developed in them a wonder- 
ful insight into life as they have found it. 

And more than that, their experience has developed 
character, developed the great white light that has been 
cast upon the dark side of life. 

Clinging to the Master 

When discouraged, when overwhelmed with the 
serious problems, conditions and surroundings confront- 



LEST WE FORGET 



ing them, did they look for a way to escape or to shirk 
their responsibilities? No! Indeed they did not. 

They directed their vision upward. They clung to 
that great spirit of hope, faith and trust in the Master till 
the mists were swept away by the light that radiates from 
Him who ever shows the way. 

They were succored and sustained in their efforts 
to push onward until the triumphant goal was won. 

Today they are wonderfully and fully equipped for 
future endeavors. Clean, white, with high ideals, with 
ideas born of self-denial — ideas tending toward a greater 
brotherhood of man. 

Then, shall we forget the crucial test through which 
they stood the fire of an unjust and inhuman power, try- 
ing to throttle their helpless victims with their financial 
power, greed, usurpation and dominion over weaker 
peoples. 

Forget Nothing 

Indeed we will not forget anything. More than that 
we are going to be made to recognize and to remember the 
wonderful manhood developed into men of force, spir- 
itual, physical and mental abilities. 

New Blood Needed in Our National Life 

Our young American men will infuse new blood, new 
energy, new and higher ideals into our national life. 
They are going to cleanse our political cliques of corrup- 
tion, fraud and intrigues. They are going to usher in 
the dawn of a new era that will insure to our people all 
they have fought for, and having won, are going to compel 
recognition and appreciation of the wonder wrought, the 
sacrifice made. 



LEST WE FORGET 



Yes, I believe our boys are prepared to take up the 
big things in life. The establishment of homes for our 
people who have sacrificed their all to the demands made 
by the exigencies of the war. 

Not institutions of charity, for that would be an 
insult to the manhood and womanhood of America, but 
domestic homes for our people. 

Compel Our Government's Respect 

Our government is going to be compelled to respect 
the manhood that respects our constitution and have 
maintained the honor of our republic. 

There will be no shipwrecking of our old ironclad 
constitution of these United States made possible by any 
other nation. 

The Handwriting on the Wall 

Our peace shall be made secure and without any 
strings attached. The handwriting is on the wall of 
America, written in the best blood of our land, and by 
the light of a civilization that no tyranny will ever extin- 
guish. 

And it reads, "Hands Off." And our boys will see 
to it that all foreign hands will be kept off as far as any 
controlling power or interference with our national life is 
concerned. 

Our Foreign Policy a Mistake 

There has always been one mistaken policy of our 
country I have never approved, and that is our open 
door to foreign immigration. 

For years I have contended that the time would come 
when we would see and have just cause for regret that 



10 LEST WE FORGET 



we have allowed such easy access to our shores of the 
ignorant rabble of foreign peoples. 

And I am quite sure we can now see the results of 
our mistaken ideas in regard to such unrestricted immi- 
gration to our country. The consequence is very appar- 
ent. We have flooded our country with a horde of vicious 
and ignorant class of the lowest underlings from all the 
nations across the seas, a class of people who can not, or 
will not realize the wonderful resources, the many oppor- 
tunities offered them for their advancement and success. 

The Advantage Taken 

But just as soon as they see the advantages they can 
take of American workmen by working for cheaper wages, 
living in hovels, existing on provisions that no self- 
respecting American would tolerate, they become insolent, 
self-conceited and arrogant, and start to making trouble. 

Lack of Common Sense 

They haven't the principle nor common sense to ap- 
preciate the inestimable privileges granted them. Our 
laws, our flag are meaningless to their inert minds. They 
expect the protection of our laws and ask the shelter of 
our flag. 

Why not? Isn't America the Great Mecca for which 
they have sought refuge; and to enjoy freedom from per- 
secution, to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Cer- 
tainly, that is what the laws of our country guarantee, so, 
they also take advantage of that fact. 

Time is up to Weed Them Out 

The time has come when our government must begin 
to weed out this undesirable element, and deport every 



LEST WE FORGET 11 



alien who is not willing to conform to, abide by, and sup- 
port our constitution and our laws. Deport them and 
shut the door and keep them out, and where they belong. 

In Safer Hands 

Our freeborn Americans will attend to the recon- 
struction, the building up of our disturbed labor circles, 
our commercial complications and our national interest at 
home and abroad. 

Our Idle Lands 

Another very important subject that our government 
officials should give their immediate attention to is our 
idle lands. There are thousands of acres of the govern- 
ment lands untouched, which should be cultivated, giving 
our men opportunities, to not only help themselves, but 
making the land productive, helping to swell the farm 
production and developing the country. 

Canadian Enterprise 

Canada is drawing and will continue to draw away 
from the United States thousands of our best and most 
worthy citizens, by offering inducements that our own 
government seems to be too short-sighted to see. 

We fill our own ranks of laboring men with the 
foreign hobo element, and drive our best citizens out of 
their own country by too much red tape, manipulation 
and uncertainties. 

So while we are taking up the work of reconstruction 
and readjustments we can well afford to consider this land 
question. 



12 LEST WE FORGET 



Colonization Would Solve the Problem 

Thousands of acres could be colonized and thou- 
sands of our soldiers could establish homes, build schools 
and churches, organize colonies and in a very few years 
create a community of self-respecting, loyal and a high- 
class of citizenship, an honor to our country and a happy 
prosperous people. 

Soldiers Ready and Willing 

There are thousands of our soldier boys who would 
be willing and ready to take up such a proposition to 
secure homes for themselves and prospective families. 
Such a community would be made up of our very best 
and ennobling manhood and womanhood, from which 
there would spring up a wealth of endeavor and success, 
homes of a happy people, living near to nature and na- 
ture's God. That is the class of people from which all 
worth-while success emanates. 

Will Take Years of Toil 

This reconstruction period will take years to readjust 
the many elements disturbed by the war. 

And one of the biggest and most important of all, is 
the humanity side. We must bear in mind and be very 
sure we do not forget the many homes bereft of husbands 
and sons. Homes made desolate, vacancies that can never 
be filled again. We who rejoice and are made happy by 
the return of our loved ones, our homes so blest with love 
and cheer, peace and contentment, feel the greater sorrow 
we see in other homes where fathers and mothers, wives 
and children mourn the absence of their dear ones who 



LEST WE FORGET 13 



sleep so far away. They can not even have the sad com- 
fort of seeing their last resting place. 

This is one of the saddest and most pitiful object 
lessons the war brings to those who have been spared the 
life long parting. No, no, we will not forget these lonely 
parents, these saddened homes. We must remember our 
duty toward all sorrowing humanity. We must look to 
the future interest of those who are left dependent on the 
great spirit of love, sympathy and the true brotherhood 
of man. 

Wherein Our Duty Lies 

So in doing our duty toward our fellowman and to- 
ward those whom we can best serve will be by seeing that 
our law makers make and pass laws in the interest of the 
people, and for the protection of all who have need of 
justice being done. There should be no favored few, 
but every soldier and every soldier's kindred should be 
included in our work of uniting our big human family 
as one brotherhood. Our boys fell into line and fought 
shoulder to shoulder as one phalanx, fought for all 
homes. We will do no less for them in our civil life. 

And now they will fight to sustain those homes 
through the ballot box. They will know what they want, 
and will see that all are justly rewarded. 

A Christian Brotherhood 

I know of no way more safe and secure than by hold- 
ing fast to the ideals of the uplifting brotherhood of man, 
working in harmony for the good of all humanity and 
maintaining a Christian civilization that all the world 
will honor and respect, just as our country has compelled 



14 LEST WE FORGET 



all other nations to honor and respect our flag and our 
republic. 

All Work Together 

Let us all work together in the future interest of the 
young manhood and young womanhood of America, who 
are to be the salvation of our race, defend our national 
life, our statehood, municipalities, homes and loved ones. 

And never forget the magnificent soldiers dead who 
have given their lives that we might live. 

Neither will we forget those who have returned in 
safety, inspired with a new hope for future achievements 
in the big things in life, and in a labor of love for all 
humanity. 

My Religion and Principles — What I Believe, and What 

I Stand For — 

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. 

The united brotherhood of man. 

Adequate provisions for all disabled soldiers, their 
wives and children. 

I am bitterly opposed to a League of Nations. 

All idle lands opened to entry and made more easily 
obtainable by long time terms and reasonable in price. 

Equal and a just taxation to all. 

Colonization of the poorer classes of working people. 
Relieving the congested and densely populated cities. 
Helping to establish permanent homes. 

Back to the land, a slogan worth while. 

Restricted immigration that will restrict. 

Protection for all American industries, agricultural 
and manufactories, 



LEST WE FORGET 15 



And the Government's hands off our railroads. 

Both fine and imprisonment for war profiteers. They 
should be taxed 99 per cent of their stealings. 

Our Flag. The constitution of these United States 
with no amendments. 

God loving, and God serving men in public office. 

Yours for right doing and justice. 

Fully and completely equipped for war in times of 
peace, and an adequate standing army of not less than 
300,000 men. 

Note: If we had been fully prepared in 1914 for war 
our ships would not now be bringing home our dead. 

The Spirit Ship 

They went in the pride of manhood's strength, 
When the call of their country came, 

Nor faltered not, in the face of death, 
But now they are coming home. 

They hear not the sound of the muffled drum, 
They hear naught of the ocean's roar. 

In silence they ride through the lashing waves 
Till their spirit ship sights our shore. 

The homes they saved, will sadly greet 
The banner that droops half mast, 

Hear not the tread of marching feet 
While their spirit ship floats past. 

I dedicate this little message of love and interest to 
our American men and women. 

MRS. LOUISE COULSON. 

Salt Lake City, Utah, 

February 10, 1921. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS f 



021 140 399 8 



